Refrigerator



B. F. VOGT BEFRIGERATOR May 10, 1927.

Filed March 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR m A TTORNE Y May 10 1927. 1,628,083

B. F. vocs-r REFRIGERATOR Filed March 30. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 2e M706 Z2 A 17' ORNE Y May 10 1927. 1,628,083

B. F. VOGT HEFRI GERATOR Filed March 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J JO 4 1,628,083 B. F. VOGT REFRIGERATOR Filed March 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR May 10,1927.

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May 10 B. F. VOGT REFRIGERATOR Filed March 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN T OR fienecza 'c V0 B Y m J ATTORNEY Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

BENETHCT F. VOGT, OF LOUISVILLE. KENTUCKY.

REFRIGERATOR.

Application filed March 30, 1926. Serial No. 98,482.

This invention relates to refrigerators and has special reference to a refrigerator wherein the food to be preserved is contained in drawers instead of being laid on shelves as is common in household refrigerators.

Tn shelf provided refrigerators the food is either laid directly on the shelves or the food containers such as pans, plates, saucers temperature of the air, especially above the loaded shelf, becomes much higher than it should be and food frequently spoils.

One importantobject of the invention is to provide an improved form of refrigerator wherein uninterrupted refrigerating air circulation about the food and its containers will at all times be maintained. this being accomplished by providing a novel arrangement food receptacle-s so positioned as to form, with the walls of the food chamber, continuous refrigerating air passages.

second important object of the invention is to provide a novel food drawer arrangement in a refrigerator, the drawer or drawers being spaced from the bottom, top and side walls of the food compartment so that the exterior of all the drawers is constantly exposed to currents of refrigerating air.

in the use of drawers in such a refrigerator it is not always sufficient that the outside of the drawer be cooled but in most instances it is highly desirable that there should be a free circulation of air about the food placed in such drawers.

third object of the invention is to provide, for such a refrigerator, a novel arrangement of d rawers whereby refrigerating air may circulate through the interior, the bottom of each drawer being reticulated and the side walls being also provided with port means so that provision is made for influx and etllux of refrigerating air even if the food he placed on the bottom so as to entirely close it.

ln the ordinary shelf provided refrigerator it frequently happens that flat articles of food such as steaks and the like are placed on the shelves.- The space above such articles is thus either wasted or other foodhas to be placed on top of that already on the shelf, a most undesirable result. The same would be true of ordinary drawers.

A fourth object of the invention is, therefore. to provide a removable shelf in each drawer so that either flat articles or tall articles may be placed in the drawer without waste of space. i

It is inconvenient to have to lift such a shelf out of the drawer to obtain access to the food beneath and a fifth object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator drawer with a shelf shorter than the drawer and slidably supported so that it may be moved from end to end of the drawer. If such shelf was made solid the same objections, though in a less degree, would prevail as is the case withsolid or closed off shelves or drawer bottoms.

A sixth object of the invention is to provide a reticulated shelf forsuch a drawer and to provide the drawer with air circulating ports above and below such shelf so that lateralair circulation may be obtained about the food placed either on the bottom of the drawer bottom or on the shelf.

A seventh object of the invention is to provide the refrigerator with drawer sup porting racks so arranged that they will not stop the circulation of refrigerating air.

An eighth object of the invention is to have all such racks and drawers removable so that the interiorof the refrigerator may be readily cleaned.

A ninth object of the invention is to have such drawers so arranged as to form closures for the food compartments both when closed and when fully opened.

A tenth object of the invention is to equip the refrigerator with doors for the food compartments so arranged as to provide dead air spaces between the doors and drawers.

\Vith the above/and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings like char acters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

'door jamh 13.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator constructed in accordance with this invention, the door to one food compartment being open and one drawer being partly drawn out.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator with the doors all open and the interior movable parts removed.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section through such a refrigerator.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a plan view of one of the racks removed from the refrigerator.

Figure 7 is an cnlargedscction on the line 77 of Figure 6. I

Figure 8 is a similar section on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a similar section on the line 99 of'Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of refrigerator with the door open.

Figure 11 is a horizontal section through the ice compartment of the refrigerator shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a detail section, taken horizontally through the rear side portion of one of the drawers.

The embodiments of the invention herein described and illustrated are to be understood as typical of the general construction of refrigerators containing the inventive features set forth and that, while a so called front icer has been shown the arrangements and devices of this invention may be employed with refrigerators havingthe door to the ice compartment at the back or top. Also, mechanical means may he used in the refrigerating chamber in place of ice. Naturally such specific constructions, being old and well known. lo not require separate illustration particularly as they form no specific part of the invention and enter into the combinations claimed only in a generic manner.

In the form shown in Figures 1 to 9 inelusive there is illustrated a casing 10 having heat insulated walls. \Vithin this casing is a vertical partition 11 which terminates short of the top and bottom of the casing to provide air passages or ports 12. The front edge of this partition joins a. vertical Thus the casing is divided within to form two main compartments. Across one of these compartments extends a. horizontal partition 14 having one or more port openings 15 therein and this last partition divides the respective compartment into an upper secondary compartment forming a refrigerating chamber and a lower secondary compartment for containing food.

The refrigerating compartment is, of course.

to contain suitable refrigerating means such as ice or the coils of a mechanical refrigerating device. The remaining main compartment also forms a food compartment.

, f In the present instance all of these com- & partments open at the front of the refrigerator and each one of these compartments is provided with a hinge supported door 16, the usual latches 17 being supplied to hold the doors closed. The edges of these doors are rabbeted to fit corresponding surfaces at the door openings and thereby render the refrigerator air tight.

In the form shown in Figures 10 and 11 the construction is substantially the same except that the refrigerator is narrow and there is no partition 11. there being simply an upper refrigerating chamber and a lower food chamber. Also but one door 16 is provided. This form is intended for use in small apartments, cottages and the like.

In each of the food compartments there is arranged one or more sets of four pins 18, the pins of each set being in the same horizontal plane. Two pins of each set protrude forwardly from the r-ear' Tvall of the compartment and the remaining two p ns protrude rearwardly from the front wall. one pin of each set being positioned at each side of the door opening. These pins are spaced from the side walls of the compartment and each bottom set is spaced above the bottom or floor of the respective compartment. These pins serve to support the drawer racks and each of these racks includes a normally fixed frame having sides 19 L-shaped in cross section with the horizontal legs of the Us extending toward each other and the vertical legs of the Us extending upwardly from the horizontal legs. These side members are connected at their ends by end members 20 likewise L-shaped in cross section but with their 'ertical'legs extending dmvnwardtv. The rear end "EQUIP her is provided with openings 21 for the rear pins 18 while the front member 20 is provided with downwardly opening slots for the front pins 18 and extends across the door openin At the front part of each member 19 a flange 23 extends inwardly from the upper edge of the vertical leg. It will be noted that this frame may be removed from the refrigerator by lifting the front to free it from the front pins after which it. is drawn forwardly off the rear pins and tilted laterally to such an angle an to permit it to pass through the door opening. The side frame members 19. it will be observed. are spaced from the side walls of the respective foodcompartmpnt.

Slidably mounted on this frame is an extension frame having side members 24 of L shape and resting in the angle of the side members 19. The horizontal legs of these members are provided with downwardly struck or pressed ribs 25 and the vertical .the rear end are lateral flanges and legs have outwardly struck or pressed bosses 26, these ribs and bosses serving to aid in smooth sliding movement of the extension frame on the fixed frame. The side members 24 have their rear ends connected by a bar 27 while their front ends are connected by a bar 28 L-shaped in cross section with the vertical leg of the L extending upwardly. On the upper edge of each side member 24 is a flange 29 which engages beneath a respective flange 23 to prevent tilting of the extension frame when drawn out. At the front of each member 24 is a drawn stop 30.

The drawers used in this refrigerator, while of different sizes are all of like construction. Each of these drawers has spaced sides 31 provided on their bottom edges with flanges 32 supporting a reticulated bottom 33. The rear end 34 of the drawer projects above the side wall and at stops 36 cooperating, when the drawer is pulled out, with the flanges 29. Also stops 37 are provided on the sides which cooperate with the stops 30 to limit outward movement of the drawer. The front 38 of the drawer projects below the bottom and above the top edge of the sides as well as laterally beyond the sides so that, when closed the drawer completely closes the space in the compartment occupied by the drawer while in fully open position the rear end acts similarly to close such space thus preventing the escape of cold air or the raising of the refrigerator temperature to any injurious extent. The top edge of each drawer side is provided with a cut away portion 39 and the sides are also provided with air ports or openings 40 located both above and below a shelf rail 41 whereon is removably mounted areticulatcd shelf 42 which is shorter than the drawer so that it can he slid from end to end thereof.

These drawers rest and slide on the extension frame, being provided with a hand grip 43 in order to draw them in and out and their sides are spaced from the side walls of the compartment to provide air passages at each side of the compartment, the rear end being similarly spaced from the rear of the compartment so as to leave an air pa sage. Moreover the bottom of the bottom drawer is spaced from the floor of the compartment. By reason of this arrangement free circulation of air, as indicated by the arrows, is obtained in all parts of the refrigerator with the result that a high degree of refrigeation is maintained at all times.

It is especially to be noted that thelower drawer, or drawer next the bottom of the refrigerator provides for the passage of acurrent of cold air beneath an article placed therein whereas, with the usual construction of refrigerator, any article such as a platter or milk bottle placed on the floor of a food compartment has all circulation of cold air beneath such article cut off.

In Figure 5 a water cooler 4-1 is disclosed and it will be noted from Figure 3 that the usual drain board 46, drain 4? and lining 48 are provided for the ice compartment.

In Figures 10 and 11, the ice compartment. being behind the door which closes the food compartment, has a separate door so that this compartment may remain closed when access is desired to the drawers.

There has thus been )rovided a simple and efficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, therefore desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired t6 include all su: h as properly come within the s:0pe claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. In a refrigerator, a walled compartment, a drawer slidable into and out of Said compartment and spaced from the sides, top and bottom of the compartment to permit free circulation of air about the drawer, said drawer having a bottom and side walls provided with openings to permit free circulat on of air. through the drawer from the bottom and sides thereof, and a reticulated shelf supported in said drawer in spaced relation to the bottom, certain of the openings in the side walls of the drawer being above the level of the shelf.

2. In a refrigerator, a walled compartment. :1 drawer slidab'e into and out of said (UlilPal'tmeIltand spaced from the sides, top and bottom of the compartment to permit free circulation of air about the drawer. said drawer having a bottom and side walls provided with openings to permit free circulation of airthrough the drawer from the bottom and sides thereof, and a reticulated shelf of less length than the drawer and supported in said drawer for sliding movement longitudinally of said drawer and in spaced relation to the drawer bottom, certain of the openings in the side walls of the drawer being above the level of the shelf.

3. In a refrigerator, a walled compartment, a drawer supporting rack in said compartment in spaced relation to the bottom thereof, said rack having side members spaced from the side walls of the compartment and being open between said side members, a drawer slidable on the rack and having its sides spaced from the side walls of said drawer in spaced relation to the bottom of the drawer, the side walls of said drawer being provided with openings above and below the level of the shelf.

4. In a refrigerator, a walled compartment, a drawer supporting rack in said compartment in spaced relation to the bottom thereof, said rack having side members spaced from the side walls of the compartment and being open between said side members, a drawer slidable on the rack and having its sides spaced from the side walls of the compart'i-nent. said drawer having a reticulated bottom spat ed above the bottom of the 'drawersides. a rettulated shelf in said" drawer in spaced relation to the bottom of the drawer, said drawer being of 105-: depth than the con'ipartment. and stop means to limit inward movement of the drawer and arranged to maintain space between the rear walls of the drawer and compartment.

5. In a refrigerator. a walled compartment, a drawer supporting rack in said compartment in spaced relation to the bottom thereof. said rack having side members spaced from the side walls of the compartment and being open between said side members, a drawer slidable on the rack and having its sides spaced from the side walls of.

the compartment, said drawer having a reticulated bottom spaced above the bottom of the drawer sides. a reticulated shelf in said drawer in spaced relation to the bottom of the drawer, the side walls of said drawer being provided with openings above and below the level of the shelf, said drawer being of less depth than the ompartmcnt, and stop means to limit inward movement of the drawer and arranged to maintain space between the rear walls of the drawer and compartment. 7

6. In a refrigerator. a vertically elongated compartment open at the front and arranged to receive cold air from the bottom of a refrigerating chamber and permit escape of warmer air to the top of said chamber, and a vertical series of drawers in said compartment all having their side walls spaced from the sides of the compartment to provide a continuous air circulating passage at each side of the stack of drawers, the lowermost drawer being spaced from the. bottom of the compartment to provide an air passage affording communication between the first mentioned passages at the bottom of the compartment, the side walls of the uppermost drawer being shaped to provide air passages affording communication between the first passages at the top of the compartment.

7. In a refrigerator, a vertically elongated compartment open at the front and arranged to receive cold air from the bottom of a refrigerating chamber and permit escape of warmer air to the top of said chamber, and

a vertical series of drawers in said compartment all having their side walls spaced from the sides of the compartment to provide a continuous air circulating passage at each side of the stack of drawers, the lowermost drawer being spaced from the bottom of the compartment to provide an air passage affording eonnnunication between the first mentioned passages at the bottom of the compartment, the side walls of the uppernmst drawer being shaped to provide air passages affording communication between the first passages at the top of the compartment and the bottoms of said drawers being reticulated to allow air to pass fronrbeneath each drawer into the interior thereof, the side walls of said drawers further being provided with openings above the respective bottoms forming air ports between the first mentioned passages and the interior of the respective drawer.

8. In a refrigerator, a vertically elongated compartment open at the front and arranged to receive cold air from the bottom of a refrigerating chamber and permit escape .of warmer air to the top of said chamber, and a vertical series of drawers in said compartment all having their side walls spaced from the sides of the compartment to provide a continuous air circulating passage at each side of the stack of drawers. the lowermost drawer being spaced from the bottom of the compartment to provide an air passage affording communication between the first mentiytned passages at the bottom of the .compartment, the side walls of the uppermost drawer being shaped to provide air passages affording communication between the first passages at the top of the compartment and the bottoms of said drawers being reticulated to allow air to pass from beneath each drawer into the interior thereof, the side walls of said drawers further being provided with openings above the respective bottoms forming air ports between the first mentioned passages and the interior of the respective drawer, certain of the openings in the side wall being above the level of the shelf and others of said openings being below the level of the shelf.

9. In a refrigerator. a vertically elongated compartment open at the front and arranged to receive cold air from the bottom of a refrigerating chamber and permit escape of warmer air to the top of said chamber, a vertical series of drawers in said compartment all having their side walls spaced from the sides of the compartment to provide a continuous air circulating passage at each side of the stack of drawers, the lowermost drawer being spaced from the bottom of the compartment to provide an air passage af fording communication between the first mentioned passages at the bottom of the compartment, the side walls of the uppermost drawer being shaped to provide air passages affording communication between the first passages at the top of the compartment and the bottoms of said drawers being reticulated to allow air to pass from beneath each drawer into the interior thereof, the side walls of said drawers further being provided with openings above the respective bottoms forming air ports between the first mentioned passages and the interior of the respective drawer, and supporting telescopic racks for said drawers having their sides spaced from the sides of the compartment and their forward ends provided with a vertical surface extending across the open side of the compartment, said drawers having their rear ends vertically extended above and below the sides to rest against said vertical surfaces upon the drawers being fully opened and having their-front ends laterally and verticall extended to close the spaces in the open fi -ont of the compartment when the drawers ale closed.

10. In a refrigerator, a casing open at its front, and having a partition extending from back to front between the casing sides to divide the easing into two main compartments, said partition having port means at its top and bottom to provide air circulation passages between said compartments, one of said compartments having a horizontal partition extending thereacross to divide the compartment into secondary compartments, one of the secondary compartments constituting a chamber for refrigerating means and the other secondary compartment and the remaining main compartment constituting drawer receiving compartments, and drawers in said compartments spaced from the sides, bottoms and tops of the compartments to provide air circulating passages between the compartment walls and the drawers, to permit flow of air between the secondary compartments, said drawers having their bottoms and sides provided with openings constituting air circulating ports.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

BENEDICT F. VOGT. 

